Speculum.



F. E. P'POOL.

SPLEGULUM.

APPLICATION rILnn DOT. 3, 1911. RENEWED JULY 29, 1914.

1 .1 10,81 8. Patented Sent. 15' 1914.

WITNESSES MENTOR %zm/za/@ a, flax/2A7 mmz ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS co., FHOTOALI 1140., WASHING roN. r) c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. PPOOL, 0F SNYDER, TEXAS.

SPEGULUM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 3, 1911, Serial No. 652,483. Renewed July 29, 1914. Serial No. 853,920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. PPooL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Snyder, in the county of Scurry and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Speculum, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide a yielding device for dilating the orifices of the body under certain conditions; to provide a device of the character described which will retain its osition in the orifice in which it is inserted and to provide a device of the character mentioned with means for holding a cleansing material.

The drawing shows a speculum constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, illustrating in conjunction therewith the application of a detergent cleansing material.

The drawing shows an embodiment of the invention in the form of a vaginal speculum. Although the embodiment of the invention is shown as applicable to the special form mentioned, it will be understood that by varying the size and shape, and maintaining the principle of the invention, the apparatus embodying the same may be employed for other orificial dilations.

As seen in the drawing the preferred form of structure is that employing wire. The resiliency of the wire employed in forming the structure is such as to avoid muscular injury, such as would be occasioned by a resistance to spasmodic actions of the delicate muscles surrounding and constituting a part of the orifice structures. The wire is bent to form, at the inner end of the speculum, flared and slightly enlarged portions 5. The portions 5 are each functioned to retain the apparatus in operative position after the insertion of the same. Adjacent the enlarged portions 5 the 'wire is bent to form the neck portions 6, reaching to the forward or outer end of the speculum when in use. Between the portions 6, and connected to one of the wires forming the said portions by a cross section 7, are the framing members 8. The members 8 being disposed between the portions 6, form a basketlike structure to function with the portions 5 and 6 to spread the muscular structures and prevent the intrusion of the same between the portions 6.

The speculum is formed by the two structures or sides, each having an enlarged por tion 5 and two neck portions 6, with a framing member 8. These structures are resiliently connected by the mouth portion 9. The mouth portion 9, constructed as shown from the same wire as the members 5, 6, 7 and 8, is bent to form a resilient hinge or axis from which the said side structures dilate. In the drawing the hinge is shown as a handle portion 10, used in the placement and displacement of the apparatus.

While the apparatus herein described is employed principally for the purpose of mildly dilating certain orifices during the submersion of the body while bathing or swimming, it is also employed in certain cases as a support or vehicle for a detergent, prophylactic or antiseptic wash or medicament. The applicator used in conjunction with the present invention is the hook 11, the flared end 12 whereof is disposed adjacent the wire forming the portion 5 but separated therefrom to permit the introduction thereover of the article 13. The article 13 may be a lozenge of antiseptic material, a packet, or other suitable article for holding the wash or medicinal preparation. When this is applied to the apparatus, the apparatus is inserted as when not carrying the article 13.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A speculum such as described, having a plurality of resilient wire-constructed skeleton sides, said sides being connected at the forward end by a resilient loop disposed perpendicular to the axis of the speculum to normally spread apart the said sides; and a bracket support mounted upon one of said sides to extend between the said sides to receive a detergent or medicinal article.

2. A speculum such as described having separable sides constructed from spring wire and united at one end to form a handle, said handle adapted to spread said sides apart;

name to this specification in the presence of and a supporting bracket extended from the tWo subscribing Witnesses. sides of the speculum to the intermediate v Q 5 space between When'said sides are spread, p :FRANK Q 5 said bracket adapted tosupport a detergent Witnesses; U V

or medicinal article. J. D. BOYD,

In testimony whereof I have signed my PsUL C. JOHNSTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five'cents 'each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

